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New Federal Mandate

The Federal Clean Water Act has mandated that Chesterfield County enact an Illicit Discharge Ordinance. This new ordinance went into effect November 1, 1997 and makes it illegal to discharge pollutants to the storm sewer system or to county waters. Discharges that are not permitted include things such as gasoline, oil, anti-freeze and other pollutants.

The Water Quality Section staff of the Chesterfield Department of Environmental Engineering is available for assistance with pollution prevention mechanisms and for permit issues with the Department of Environmental Quality. A Business and Industry Guide to Chesterfield County’s Illicit Discharge Ordinance is available from the Department of Environmental Engineering.

If you have any questions regarding this new ordinance or would like more information please call… 748-1035.

Morven Partners, IBM Move to Arboretum

Two companies recently moved operations into the Arboretum IX building in the Arboretum Office Park. Morven Partners has relocated their headquarters from Dallas, Texas to Chesterfield. This new location will be home to more than 30 of the company’s executives and support staff. Morven Partners L.P., trading as Original Nut House Brands, is a privately owned partnership and the largest producer of inshell roasted and salted peanuts and granulated peanuts in the world. Morven has over fourteen hundred employees operating in 27 locations across the United States.

IBM Corporation has relocated its regional offices from downtown Richmond with approximately 180 IBM employees operating out of the new facility in Chesterfield.

Jobs of Tomorrow Employer Forum

The Economic Development staff has been very busy working with the Chesterfield Career Development Advisory Committee (CCDAC), Chesterfield Public Schools and John Tyler Community College on a number of workforce preparation issues.

The CCDAC coordinated an employer forum entitled, Jobs of
Tomorrow – Employers Speak Out. The event was held on October 9, 1997 in the manufacturing center at Philip Morris USA. More than 150 Chesterfield County PTA members, school administrators and guidance counselors attended where they heard opening remarks from Dr. William Bosher, Superintendent of Schools, and an economic overview of the county by Gary McLaren, Director of Economic Development.

The forum panel was comprised of seven business leaders
representing six area industries. Each panelist discussed the workforce preparation issues related to their respective businesses and provided invaluable information to the attendees in directing students into profitable career paths.

A very lively and interesting question & answer period took place at the conclusion of the panel presentation between the audience and the business leaders. Based on the comments from the attendees and panelists, the event was very successful, and will become a model to be used throughout the region so that Chesterfield and other localities will continue to provide an opportunity for business leaders to discuss their concerns and the increasing opportunities in their respective fields with educators, students and PTA leadership.

CCED Marketing Trips

Economic Development staff participates in trade shows of selected industries as part of its marketing efforts to attract new investment and jobs into the county. Recently, the staff attended shows in the food technology, medical and microelectronics industries and returned with many leads.

The Semicon West 97 show and conference was especially fruitful. Governor George Allen hosted a luncheon for key semiconductor manufacturers and suppliers at the show in San Francisco/San Jose. The Richmond area continues to receive recognition as the heart of the new “Silicon Dominion”. The number of suppliers that have indicated intentions to locate here to serve the chip manufacturing companies is rapidly expanding. Chesterfield County’s geographical location and infrastructure makes it an ideal spot to serve all the various industries in Central Virginia.

Please let the staff know of any industry-specific shows which may generate strong investment leads for the county, i.e. suppliers,
technology, etc.

Brooks Building Company Announcement

Brooks Building Company, commercial general contractors, primarily focusing on interior tenant upfit work has just moved to a new location in the Arboretum Office Park. The company provides a wide range of commercial tenant up-fit services. Brooks Building Company has leased 1,100 square feet in Arboretum I. The two-year old company has eight employees.

Millwood School Announcement

Millwood School, a private K-8 school, is building a new facility in the Woodlake/360 area. The school is currently located on Genito Road in the Brandermill area. Millwood purchased 57 acres for their new campus which will include a 20,000 square foot facility. The new school should be ready for the 1998-99 school year.

Martin Direct Announcement

Martin Direct is leasing the former Herman’s store in Chippenham Square Shopping Center on Midlothian Turnpike. The company is leasing 10,000 square feet for an inbound/outbound call center. The company relocated from leased space in the City of Richmond. Martin Direct employs seven salaried positions and 100 contract positions working 2 shifts.

Manufacturing Extension Comes to Richmond

The Richmond area’s small manufacturers have a new source for informed and objective assistance. The A.L. Philpott Manufacturing Extension Partnership (VPMEP) has opened a field office, located at 10001 Iron Bridge Road (Signet Bank building) in Chesterfield County, to serve metropolitan Richmond. A team of three project managers is available to provide a wide range of services to small manufacturers.

Manufacturing extension
project managers bring extensive industry experience to the VPMEP. Many are former plant managers and have backgrounds in industrial engineering.

VPMEP is Virginia’s link in a growing national chain of manufacturing extension centers. The Richmond office is the seventh field office developed from the headquarters in Martinsville, Virginia. All of the field offices have the same mission – helping small manufacturers become more competitive.

For more information on the services available at the Richmond metropolitan VPMEP, contact Paul Zirkle at 706-1801 or 1802.

New John Tyler Community College Campus

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John Tyler Community College held their official groundbreaking for the much-anticipated Midlothian Campus on October 6, 1997. Congratulations to Dr. Marshall Smith and the entire faculty at JTCC. The new campus will make a great addition to the Midlothian area and will provide invaluable services and educational opportunities to Chesterfield businesses and residents.

Local Company Makes Good(will)

Sealeze Corporation of Chesterfield was recently recognized by Richmond Goodwill Industries for using its contract services. Goodwill workers packaged the weatherstripping supplies that Sealeze used for sales demonstrations and presentations.

National Welders Facility Dedicated

National Welders dedicated their new $22 million air separation plant in May. The plant supplies large industrial customers with liquid nitrogen, oxygen and argon. Local companies already being served are AlliedSignal, ICI and Aqualon in Hopewell through a nine-mile pipeline. It also serves NASA, military bases, waste treatment plants and steel mills.

Commercial & Industrial Trends 1994-97

In the past three years, more than 11,594 new jobs have been added to the employment base.

A growing number of new businesses have been established. There were 450 more firms and establishments located in the county in 1996 than in 1993.

Since January 1994, a total of more than $337.41 million of new investment in commercial and industrial projects has been announced.

Those announcements included more than 3,051 new jobs and more than 2.8 million square feet of new commercial and industrial space.

Also since 1994, more than $144.5 million of new commercial and industrial real estate has been added to Chesterfield’s tax base.

 

Welcome Hewlett-Packard!

HP Facility in Rivers Bend CenterHewlett-Packard has opened its America’s Product Completion Center in the River’s Bend Center. The company is leasing two buildings from Liberty Property Trust. The first building, located at 600 Liberty Way, is 158,000 square feet and was completed in June 1997. The second building, located at 500 Liberty Way, is 146,000 square feet and will be ready for occupancy in November 1997.

The new facility will be one of three HP regional centers established worldwide for customized packaging and distribution of printer supplies. The Richmond center will ship to North and South America. Hewlett-Packard has contracted with Power Packaging, Inc. to manage the River’s Bend operation and will provide production support. Employment is expected to be approximately 175 at the new facilities.

River’s Bend Center is a 214-acre business community center in eastern Chesterfield located on I-295. The Center is adjacent to the beautiful River’s Bend Golfing Community located on the James River. Hewlett-Packard will join ERNI Components and CINTAS Corporation who have already chosen this excellent location as their corporate home.

Ind Com Announcement

Ind Com, an industrial contractor currently located in Chesterfield, has expanded into 7,300 square feet in the Willis Road Business Center. The company has eight employees.

ECPI Announcement

ECPI, a technical college, has opened a new location in Moorefield Office Park. The school is located at 800 Moorefield Park Drive. The college has 30 full-time and 20 part-time employees.

Toll Free at Last!

Governor George Allen has announced a $239 million plan to fund the building of the remaining sections of state Route 288. The toll-free Route 288 extension will link an existing portion of the highway at the Powhite Parkway in western Chesterfield County with Interstate 64 in eastern Goochland. Along with Interstate 295, Route 288 will complete a circular route around Richmond. Details of the project are as follows:

· A $93 million, four-lane extension from the Powhite to Midlothian Turnpike would begin in early 1999. The phase would include a cloverleaf interchange at Powhite and preliminary interchanges at Lucks Lane, a planned segment of Woolridge Road and Midlothian.

· A $68 million, two-lane segment from Midlothian to Patterson Avenue would begin by 2001. This phase would include bridges over Robious Road and the James River, as well as a preliminary interchange at Patterson.

· A $14 million, two-lane segment from Patterson to West Creek Parkway would begin by 2000. A full interchange at West Creek is planned.

· A $15 million, two-lane segment from West Creek to U.S. 250 (Broad Street Road) is under construction and scheduled for completion this September.

· A $49 million, four-lane segment from U.S. 250 to I-64 is planned. No schedule for that phase has been set because some federal funding is expected.

ICAPS Announcement

ICAPS has opened an office in the CentreCourt office building at Courthouse Road and Route 10. The company is leasing 800 square feet.

Still A Good Match

For the third year running, Chesterfield Schools have been named by SchoolMatch as a school system that provides “what parents want.”

For the past six years, SchoolMatch, a national school selection consulting firm, have surveyed 48,000 parents asking what they are looking for in schools. The firm has named 10 percent of the nation’s 15,893 school districts that closely match the survey results.